Robert Seaward, mate Iago,
was summoned at the instance of Captain W. J. James, dock master, for breach of
the Milford Dock Co.'s bye-laws in entering the port on 30th June.

Defendant said he was not guilty.

Commander John Archibald Jones said
that at 11.30 p.m. on 30th June he was on duty on the Dock Head when the boats
were coming into port. The first vessel was a motor smack, the second the
M.3., and the third the defendant's, the Iago. They came up in a line with
the westward. The M.3. passed the buoys properly and entered the stonework
leading up to the gates. She had got almost to the gates when the Iago
came up and hit the M.3. with her starboard, driving her against the stonework
on the Milford side of the dock gates. It was either gross neglect or
wilful attempt to damage the other vessel. Witness thought the dock gates
had gone. The gates were thin and built something like a vessel.
Once they were hit it would be impossible to close them. Witness
considered it a very serious case. Returning to the entry of the Iago
witness said it was his duty to instruct the vessels as they approached.
He told the defendant to go astern, but instead of doing so he went full speed
ahead, causing serious damage to the other vessel. Apparently after
getting through the gates Seaward did go astern. Witness considered that
it was necessary for every vessel to go astern as they approached the gates.
The Iago was going five knots as she entered.

Defendant asked witness how he
could see the relative positions of the boats on a dark night.

Witness replied that although the
time was 11.30 the night was not dark; it was really clear. In reply to a
further question witness said the defendant hit the Thornton - the M.3. - with
the bluff of his starboard bow.

Defendant: The Thornton was the
overtaking ship? ― No.

Defendant then produced two model
boats, two strips of wood to represent the stonework at the entrance to
the dock, and two bottle stoppers to represent the buoys marking the channel up
to the gates. Witness and defendant did not agree as to the relative
positions of the boats as they passed between the buoys.

In reply to Captain James, witness
said the defendant overtook the Thornton at the gates, and struck her amidships.
He estimated the speed of a vessel by trying to keep up with it on the dock
wall. If he could not walk as fast as the boat was travelling he
considered that she was going over four miles an hour.

Another watchman corroborated
Commander Jones's evidence.

THORNTON OVERTOOK IAGO

Defendant, giving evidence, said
the Thornton was behind the Iago as they entered the buoys. He insisted
that a boat had to keep away from the Hakin side as she entered to avoid being
swept behind the gate by the tide, though this was denied by Captain James.
Witness then demonstrated the positions of the boats. He declared that the
Thornton overtook him between the buoys and the gates, and that he struck her in
endeavouring to avoid the gate. The Thornton must have gone astern or he
would not have touched her.

Wm. Blockwell, skipper of The Boys,
said he was behind the Iago and the Thornton as they entered the dock. He
was sure that the Iago passed between the buoys first and was later overtaken by
the Thornton. Witness stopped his engines because he thought there would
be a collision between the other two boats.

Commander Jones, recalled, said he
was on the pier head at the time with the various vessels practically at his
feet. He expected to see the Iago come in first, because she was first in
the bay, but as the Thornton entered the buoys first the Iago should have kept
behind her.

The Chairman said the Bench
considered the charge proved and had decided to fine Seaward £5.

A summons on a similar charge
against George Rockley, the skipper of the Iago, was withdrawn.

[ Note: According to the Milford Register, the
THORNTON's registered number was M6, not M3. ]